Results of a Voyage to East Spitsbergen. 43 



Geographical Society appears to have been little noticed by- 

 British ornithologists, even by some who are particularly 

 interested in the Arctic avifauna. For instance, Mr. Trevor- 

 Battye can hardly have been aware of its existence, or he 

 would not have omitted from bis " Birds of Spitsbergen as at 

 present determined" (Ibis, 1897, pp. 574-600) such species 

 as the Dunlin and the Knot, discovered by Dr. Walter, as 

 well as the first record of the Sanderling, together with 

 other valuable matter, to which he would doubtless have 

 referred. 



Dr. Walter's contribution to our knowledge of the ornis 

 of the European Polar area is of special interest and import- 

 ance, since it treats of the eastern islands and seas of the 

 Spitsbergen Archipelago, a region of which the avifauna has 

 been but slightly investigated. I therefore hope that this 

 summary may prove of use to those who are unacquainted 

 with the original German version. 



The Bremen Expedition arrived at Spitsbergen in May 

 1889, and spent the summer on the east coast, devoting 

 its attention to geographical and scientific investigations. 

 Dr. Walter did not live to publish the results, but his notes 

 were prepared for publication by his companion. Professor 

 Kiikenthal. 



The contribution opens with a few notes on the birds 

 observed on the coast of Northern Scandinavia during April 

 and early May, while on the outward voyage. The results 

 proper are treated of under the following headings or sections — 

 (1) Dates of Migration ; (2) Breeding-Dates j (3) Nature of 

 Food ; (4) Ornis of Whale's Point Harbour and neighbour- 

 hood ^ ; (5) Ornis of King Ludwig Islands f ; (6) Ornis 

 of Ryk-Ys Islands ; (7) Ornis of King Charles Islands ; 

 (8) Ornis of the east coast of Barents Island ; (9) Ornis of 

 the 01 ga Straits. 



* Whale's Point Harbour is situated at tlie south-west corner of Edge 

 Island. 



t This small group of islands is about four miles from Whale's Point 

 and lies off the entrance of Deevie Bay, on the south-western coast of 

 Edge Island. The observations were chiefly made on the middle island, 

 Darned Barentine Island, where the ship of the Expedition was lost. 



